Recharge Metals set to test four high priority lithium targets at Wapistan

Recharge Metals (ASX: REC) will look to hit the ground running after a combination of historical information and modern technology studies highlighted four quality targets at the Wapistan lithium project in the highly prospective James Bay region of Québec, Canada.

Studies of historical data and recent generative exploration work by the company’s technical consultants, Dahrouge Geological Consulting, have identified a number of large pegmatite zones to follow up in the area.

The consultants have subsequently collated the data and provided a ranking of the targets in the lead-up to Recharge’s maiden field program due to commence in the coming weeks.

Access restrictions lifted

Recharge’s managing director, Felicity Repacholi-Muir, confirmed that land access restrictions related to Canada’s recent spate of wildfires have now been lifted, enabling on-ground field exploration to begin at Wapistan.

“The four high-priority targets identified at the Wapistan lithium project by Dahrouge provide major impetus for Recharge’s forthcoming field activities. I am especially encouraged by the scale of these targets, and the potential for lithium- bearing pegmatites to be present, based on our neighbours’ early success and these datasets,” Ms Repacholi-Muir said.

“In addition, the ability to access these by hiking in from the highway demonstrates the advantages Wapistan has with its excellent access to infrastructure. The relaxation of the fire restrictions over our two projects late last week was welcome news, and we look forward to deploying field teams to Wapistan and Express shortly.”

Target generation studies

The four targets were identified from studies of a number of datasets, including high resolution aerial and satellite imagery acquired and interpreted by Dahrouge.

The consultants also pulled together information from historical outcrop mapping completed by Main Exploration Co in 1959 and data from a high-resolution drone magnetic survey completed by Northern Superior Resources in 2022.

Historical outcrop mapping completed over the entire Yasinski Belt, including the Wapistan project and the nearby Mia and Radis projects, has also been studied and added value to the target generation program.

Notably, neighbours, Q2 Metals (TSX-V: QTWO) and Ophir Gold (TSX-V: OPHR), both utilised the same outcrop mapping in their successful exploration programs.

However, Recharge says its upcoming field inspection program will be critical in confirming the presence of pegmatites as well as whether they are spodumene-bearing.

Positive local activity

Sited in the north-western portion of the prolific James Bay Region, the Wapistan project is located near a number of projects that have returned positive exploration results.

Recent exploration has confirmed the presence of spodumene-hosted lithium occurrences at both the Mia lithium project (Q2 Metals) and the Radis lithium project (Ophir Gold).

At Mia, 3 grab samples returned 2.73, 2.05 and 0.55% lithium oxide. The grab samples were collected to verify 2022 results at the Carte Prospect (3 grab samples averaging 1.65% Li2O) and returned 2.01, 1.57 and 1.04% lithium oxide.

Ophir recently completed a short field campaign where two discrete spodumene- bearing pegmatites were mapped some 2.1km apart. Sampling of these outcrops confirmed lithium mineralisation.

At Radis, outcrop samples were reported from the Chou prospect (3 samples; 2.33%, 1.68% and 1.17% lithium oxide) and the Navet prospect (1 sample; 1.26% lithium oxide). Ophir also reported the identification of a previously unsampled 300ft x 70ft spodumene-bearing zone in historical literature.

Recharge and its consultants believe the identification of the spodumene-bearing zones in the historical reports provides encouragement to the company that the pegmatite targets identified by Dahrouge at Wapistan also have the potential to host lithium-bearing pegmatites.

Prime location over large area

The Wapistan lithium project comprises 219, 100%-owned mineral claims over two contiguous claim blocks covering approximately 107.22 sq. km in the heart of the James Bay Region.

Recharge’s Wapistan East property is underlain by approximately 20 kilometres of Yasinski Group greenstones, while the Wapistan West property is underlain by approximately 11 kilometres of Yasinski Group greenstones.

The four target areas identified at Wapistan are located within 5km of the Billy Diamond Highway and the Wemindji access road, allowing field crews relatively easy ground access.

Dahrouge and Recharge are currently finalising the logistics of the work programs now that the restrictions have eased.